Damper-regulator.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

E. B. RAYNER. DAMPER REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED 3110.23, 1904.

IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN B. RAYNER, OF PIQUA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAGONDA MANUFACTURING CO., OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

DAMPER-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed December 23 1904. Serial No. 238,164.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN B. RAYNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piqua, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Damper-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of damper-regulators operated by fluid-pressure.

In the present construction of regulators of the class above mentioned several defects are existent which it is the object of this invention to overcome in order to increase the practical advantages of the regulator. As Well known by those versed in the art to which the invention relates, the majority of damper-regulators require a more than desirable lowering of the pressure after the damper has been closed by the regulator in order to open the damper to increase the draft and restore the pressure to the maximum point.

An essential feature of this invention, therefore, is to provide means whereby the regu-,

lator will be made more sensitive to the variation of the pressure in the boilers, so that almost immediately that the pressure begins to lower after the damper has been closed the regulator will operate so as to open the damper. The means utilized to increase the sensitiveness of the regulator is susceptible of such adjustment that after the damper has been closed this device will immediately be gradually opened under automatic operation of the regulator, thereby obviating any likelihood that the damper will remain closed so long that the fire becomes dead and the pressure excessively reduced and further lowered before sufiicient combustion takes place to increase the ressure.

For a fuil description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire aknowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view showing the main parts of theregulator in section, the construction embodying the essential features of the in vention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken about on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken about on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. sectional view, bringing out more clearly the relation of the counterbalance-lever and its fulcrum to the main pressure-diaphragm and the adjacent parts.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention, the same embodies that construction of regulator in which pressure-diaphragms operated by fluid-pressure from the boilers are operably connected with the damper in order to impart the necessary opening and closing movement to the latter in governing the draft by which the combustion in the furnaces is likewise regulated. Two diaphragms are used, and for the purposes of this description the same will be called the main pressure-diaphragm 1 and the Working or damper-actuating diaphragm 2. The diaphragms 1 and 2 are located in suitable casings 8 and 4, respectively, the casing 3 of the diaphragm 1 having a pipe 5 connected therewith which leads from the boiler in which the pressure is to be regulated. The pipe 5, which is connected with the boiler-pressure, is filled with water with its pressure upon the diaphragm 1 under normal conditions. The said pipe 5 connects with a downwardly-projecting extension 6 of the casing 3, said extension being provided at its lower extremity with a cap 7 and having formed in its sides adjacent ports 8 and 9. The port 8 leads to an exhaust or outlet pipe 10, governed by a valve 11, and the port 9 leads to a pipe 12, connected with the casing 4 of the other diaphragm 2, a suitable valve 13 being also located in the length of said pipe 12. The ports 8 and 9 open into the extension 6 of the casing 3 at adjacent points, and an ordinary slide or D valve 14 is adapted to connect the ports 8 and 9 in order that the fluid in the pipe 12 may be exhausted through the pipe 10 at a predetermined point 1n the operation of the regulator. The valve 14 is connected by a rod 15 with the diaphragm 1, so that said valve is actuated by the movement of the diaphragm 1 in the variation of the pres- Fig. 4 is a partial sure in the boiler. As indicated before, the boiler-pressure acts directly upon the diaphragm 1, and a counterbalance is utilized for the diaphragm which exactly balances the pressure of the fluid thereagainst. The counterbalance means consists of a lever 16, provided with counterbalance-weights 17 and i'ulcrumed to a suitable bracket-support 18, which also carries the casing 3 of the diaphragm 1. The mounting of the counterbalance is peculiar and comprises the principal feature of the invention structurally. The lever 16 fulcrums upon the fulcrum or pivot member 19, mounted in spaced sides of the bracket 18 and adapted to oscillate in the operation of the regulator. The fulcrum member 19 is preferably journaled in bearings in the bracket 18, and said member is in contact with the upper side of the lever 16 adjacent the end opposite the weight 17. The lever 16 is actuated by the diaphragm 1, and said diaphragm is flexibly connected with the lever by means of a rod 20, the lower end of which is seated in a recess in the upper eX- tremity of the stem or rod 15, actuating the valve 14. The member 15 projects above the diaphragm 1 in order to 006 erate with the part 20, and the upper end portion of this part 20 is seated in a recess in the lower extremity of a screw 21, passing through the balance-lever 16. The fulcrum 19 thus operates upon the upper side of the lever, whereas the rod 20 actuates the lever 16 from the under side thereof during the movement of the diaphragm 1. The working or damperactuating diaphragm 2 in the casing 4 is provided with a vertical stem 22, connected with a damper-lever 23. The lever 23 is operably connected, by means of a cord or similar device 24, with a damper 25, so that when the diaphragm 2 is actuated movement will be imparted to the lever 25 in order to close or open the damper. The damper is normally held open by means of weights 26, carried by the lever 23.

In its general operation under normal conditions the counterbalance means 16 and 17 are arranged to exactly balance the presssure in the boiler. As soon, however, as the pressure increases the counterbalance means is overcome and the diaphragm 1 distended upwardly, raising the lever 16 and the weights 17. The u ward movement of the diaphragm 1 li rewise actuates the valve 14, so that said valve closes the exhaust-port 8 and opens the port 9,leading to the pipe 12. The fluid-pressure medium then passes into the pipe 12 and actuates the diaphragm 2, so as to lift the damper-lever 23, this movement closing the damper 25. It will be apparent that more or less friction and inertia are overcome in the raising movement of the counter balance means, the diaphragm 1, and the D- valve 14. This factor naturally impedes the descent of the lever 16 and the other parts mentioned, so that under average conditions a considerable decrease of pressure is necessary before the counterbalance means will be restored to its normal position in order to relieve the diaphragm 2 of the pressure and action upon the damper. With the object of facilitating the descent of the counterbalance, or, in other words, of increasing its sensitiveness to the fall of the pressure of the boiler, the fulcrum 19 is made movable, so that the effect of the counterbalance upon the diaphragm 1 may be varied. The above action is secured through the flexible connection established by the member 20 between the diaphragm 1 and the lever 16 and the peculiar mounting of the fulcrum 19. This fulcrum 19 has downwardly-projecting lugs 27 upon its under side, which fit into recesses in the upper side of the adjacent end of the lever 16, and a rocker-arm 28 projects from the fulcrum 19 and is adapted for actuation to oscillate the fulcrum and vary the position of the lever 16 in such a manner that when the counterbalance means has been raised or overcome in closing the damper the leverage of the member 16 will have been increased with regard to the diaphragm in such a manner as to cause the counterbalance to act more quickly upon the part 1 immediately the influence of decrease in the boiler-pressure is received by said diaphragm. The arm 28 of the fulcrum 19 is adapted to be actuated by a rod 29, pendent from the damperlever 23, and this rod is provided with adjustable stops 30 in its length, said stops consisting of set-collars adapted to engage the outer end of the arm 28 in order to raise or lower said arm, and thereby oscillate the fulcrum 19. The outer end of the arm 28 is provided with an opening 31, through which the rod 29 passes, and the stops 30 are located above and below the arm 28 in a manner readily apparent. The fulcrum 19 is so mounted in the bracket 18 as to be free to rotate when the ordinary friction of its bearing is overcome. During the closing movement of the damper 25 when the diaphragm 2 has been actuated the lower stop 30 is caused to engage with arm 28, because of the upward movement of the lever 23, and this arm 28 is thereby raised, oscillating the fulcrum 19, bringing the line of contact of the fulcrum with the lever 16 nearer the point of connection of the said lever with the diaphragm 1. In other words, the member 19 acts similar to a gear when it is moved by the rod 29, so as to bodily shift the lever 16 in effecting the desired variation in the point of fulcrum of said lever to increase the sensitiveness of the mechanism. The leverage of the counterbalance means is thus increased sufliciently to cause the counterbalance to descend upon any perceptible decrease or reduction of the pressure against the under side of the diaphragm 1. This moving the valve 14 downwardlya'nd connecting the ports 8 and 9, so that the fluid in the pipe 12 may discharge through the exhaust-pipe 10 and permit the diaphragm 2 to lower, the weights 26 actuating upon the lever 23 will open the damper 25. Lowering movement of the lever 23 will cause the uppermost of the stops 30 on the rod 29 to actuate the arm 28 downwardly, thereby restoring the parts 19 and 16 to their original relative, positions.

It frequently occurs that steam-boilers are used both as to steam-generating and pressure carried up to near their full capacity, and consequently a reduction in pressure much below the maximum or normal is undesirable. It is found that if the draft-damper is closed sufliciently to prevent further increase of pressure and left closed so long that a dis tinct lowering of pressure is caused the fire becomes dead to such an extent that when the damper is again opened combustion does not attain sufficient volume and intensity soon enough to prevent a much further loss of pressure, very disadvantageous. The invention is adapted to do away with disadvantages arising from the above, and a contingency such as just described is met by raising the lower stop 30 on the rod 29 much more than would be necessary otherwise, and thus when the lever 23 moves upwardly the fulcrum will be oscillated to such a degree as to so increase the leverage of the counterbalance means that the same will overcome the increase in the boiler-pressure as soon as the damper has been closed, and this operation will thereby cause the diaphragm 1 to gradually lower, and thus the damper will be slowly opened. The quick returning movement of the counterbalance means upon reduction of the pressure after the damper has been closed is caused either by throttling the exhaust8 by the valve 14 or by preventing the valve 14 from uncovering the port 8, more or less, by adjustment of the lowermost set-screw 32. The adjustment above mentioned-may be secured by manipulating the adjusting-screw 21, which cooperates with the rod or connecting member 20. The set-screw 32 mentioned above is one of two set-screws 32 and 33, mounted in the bracket adjacent the casing 4 of the diaphragm 2, the counterbalancelever 16 moving between the set-screws 32 and 33 in such a manner that said screws limit its movement in either direction. The rapidity of the opening and closing of the damper 25 is thus regulated virtually by means of the valve 14, the effect of which is to modify such movement as desired',,and in this instance a certain adjustment will retard both the opening and closing movement, whereas a second adjustment will accelerate such movement. The construction of the regulator is such that the use of stuffingboxes and valve-seats is obviated, this being of no small importance in this class of devices, and free access may be had to the valve 14 by removal of the cap 7, before described.

It is to be understood that the terms pressure-diaphragm and working diaphragm as used hereinbefore in this description are designed to mean diaphragm-motors in the general sense in which the last-mentioned term is used in the art to which this invention relates.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a damper-regulator, the combination of a damper, a diaphragm-motor operably connected with said damper, afluid-pressuresupply'pipe leading to the diaphragm-motor, a valve governing the passage of pressure medium through said pipe, an exhaust governed by said valve, a pressure balance-lever, spaced adjustable set-screws arranged upon opposite sides of said lever to limit the movement thereof, a rod connected at one end with the valve aforesaid and at its other end with the pressure balance-lever, a set-screw applied to the balance-lever and engaging an end of the rod aforesaid to establish an adjustable connection between said lever and the rod, and means for actuating the pressure balance-lever.

2. In a damper-regulator, the combination of a pressure diaphragm-motor, a working diaphragm-motor, a fiuid-supply pipe lead ing to the working diaphragm-motor, a valve operated by the pressure diaphragm-motor and governing the supply of pressure medium through the supply-pipe aforesaid, a counterbalance lever, means operably connecting the lever and the pressure diaphragm-motor, a fulcrum member on which said counterbalance-lever is fulcrumed, and means operable by the working diaphragm-motor for acuating the fulcrum member of the counterbalance-lever to shift the point of fulcrum thereof and vary the sensitiveness of said lever.

3. In a damper-regulator, the combination of damper-controlling mechanism including a diaphragm-motor, pressure balance means including a balance-lever, and means for actuating the pressure balance-lever to shift the point of fulcrum thereof and vary the sensitivenessof the regulator.

4. In a damper-regulator, the combination of damper-controlling mechanism including a diaphragm-motor, pressure balance means embodying a balance-lever, means operably connecting the lever with the diaphragmmotor, a fulcrum for said lever, and means for automatically shifting the lever to vary the leverage thereof with reference to its fulcrum.

5. In a damper-regulator, the combination of a pressure diaphragm-motor, a working diaphragm-motor, a fluid-supply pipe leading to the working diaphragm-motor a valve operated by the pressure diaphragm-motor and governing the supply of pressure medium through the supply-pipe, a counterbalancelever for the pressure diaphragmanotor, a fulcrum member for the counterbalance-le ver, a damper-lever connecting with the Working diaphragm-motor, and'adjustable means connecting the fulcrum member aforesaid with the damper-lever for actuating the fulcrum member.

6. In a damperregulator, the combination of a pressure diaphragm-motor, a Working diaphragm-motor, a fluid-pressure pipe lead ing to the working diaphragm-motor, a valve operated by the pressure diaphragm-motor and governing the supply of. pressure medium through the supply-pipe, a counterbalancelever for the pressure diaphragm-motor, a movable fulcrum for the counterbalance-lever, a damper-lever connected with the working diaphragm-motor, and means carried by the damper-lever for shifting the fulcrum of the counterbalance-lever, as set forth.

7. In a damper-regulator, the combination of a pressure diaphragm-motor, a working diaphragm-motor, a fluid-pressure pipe leading to the working diaphragm-motor, a valve operated by the pressure diaphragm-motor, and governing the supply of pressure medium through the supply-pipe, a counterbalancelever for the pressure diaphragm-motor, afulcrum member for said lever, a damper-lever connected with the working diaphragm-motor, and an actuating device carried by the damper-lever and connected with the fulcrum member for shifting the latter and the counterbalance-lever, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN B. RAYN ER.

Witnesses:

ALoNzo SINGER, EARL LINDSLEY. 

